Safety razor



SAFETY RAZOR Filed Feb. 15, 1938 Patented Oct. 28, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETY RAZOR Paul L. Phillips, Hartford, Conn.

Application February 15, 1938, Serial No. 190,630

20 Claims.

My invention relates to safety razors.

It has among its objects to provide an improved blade connecting and supporting structure. Other objects are to provide an improved construction whereby a blade is accurately and securely positioned on a holder in an improved manner, and 'to provide such a construction wherein the blade is readily and quickly connectible and removable at will. Further objects of my invention are to provide an improved razor construction, and also onek wherein the parts of the holder, and also the razor blade, are so improved that, in addition to the above advantages, they cooperate in an improved manner to enable improved results to be obtained during shaving and the handling of the razor incident thereto, while also enabling the razor to be very inexpensively -produced.. These and other objects and advantages of my improved construction will, however, hereinafter more fully appear.

In the accompanying drawing, I have shown for purposes of illustration certain embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In the drawing,-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of. a razor with.,

the backing member raised to expose the blade therein, a portion of the blade also being broken away to facilitate illustration;

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view, the backing member being removed and the blade being4 shown in process of connection to the guard member;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to'Figure 2 but showing the blade as it approaches connected position and is about ready to snap into the position shown in Figure 1;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the guard and blade shown in Figures 2 and 3 but withthe blade'in connected position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view on liney Fig. 8 is a detail transverse section of the asy,

sembled razor taken on line 8-8 of Figure 1;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Figure '7 showing a modified construction;`

Fig. 10 is a similar view showing a further modiiied construction;

y'Attention is also directed to the fact that parallel `Figure 11, and

Figure 14 isa transverse sectional view similar to Figure 8 and including the guard but showing this modified construction.

In the illustrative construction shown in Figures 1 to 8, I have shown a razor comprising a a guard I and cooperating backing member! connected thereto by a member 3 extendinginto a handle 4 and adapted to be threaded to ausual knob 4a in a usual manner; the guard Land backing member 2 each herein being of an improved construction andcooperating with an improved blade 5as hereinafter described.

Referring first to the guard fl, it will be noted that the same is provided with an improved longitudinally extending centrally located Ablade `connecting means, fherein a raised portion 6 provided with an aperture 1 midway between its ends through which the connecting member 3y of the backing member extends, and herein l also of greater widththan the diameter 'of thisy aperture .'I. Moreover, it will be noted thatthepor- `port 5a for the blade at each endy thereof. The Y ends Vof the portion 6, while capable of assuming other forms, are herein also rounded, asshown y,at 9, while thetop of this portion 6, although not limited thereto, is also shown herein as flat.

longitudinal sidewalls I Il are provided on this portion 6 and that these are herein grooved or undercut, as shown at II, in such manner as to provide on opposite sides of the portion 6 extending .throughout the length thereof, longitudinal blade receiving slots, preferably somewhat upwardly flared. at their opposite ends, as shown at I Ia, to facilitate entry of the cooperating blade portions hereinafter described. 'Referring to `Figure 7, it also willbe observed that each groove or slot II, while not limited thereto, `in a preferred cross section vcomprises a bottom upwardly and inwardly sloping surface I2, herein extending beyond the plane of the walls I0, a top sloping surface I3, shorter than the surface I2 and extending upwardly and outwardly, and a short vertical surface I4 and connecting the inner ends of the sloping surfaces I2 and I3.

Cooperating with theimproved connecting portion 6, just described, is the improved blade 5. Herein, this blade, which is preferably formed of thin resilient steel, is provided with a central lonlieved along the top and bottom corners thereof and preferably, as herein shown, to form on these edges oppositely directed, herein oppositely breakage due to longitudinal flexing of the portions IB, I9 by the backing member. It will also be noted that the depth of the slot herein is also greater than the height of the portion 6, as shown in Figure 8, to insure such clamping. Herein, as in a preferred construction, the slot 20 also is of greater width than the diameter of the portion 3 on the backing member, as shown in Figure 8.

In the use of this improved Lconstruction, it is possible forthe blade 5 to be Very readily and securely connected to the guard. As shown in n Figure 2, one end of the blade is slightly flexed Y, transversely by raising its end portion I9 so that tapered, surface portions I'I, correspondingto'thej 4 surface I2 in the slot, andpreferably of ,equall length and taper to facilitatemanufacture, and

spaced by an intermediate untapered portion fIIa; g

these portions I1 beingadapted to cooperate with the surfaces 'I12,-'I 3,of the'slot r'II to prevent llateral displacement of 'the' blade. relative tothe guard and'take upinequalities in'fmanufa'cture, while accurately and securely locatingr and cen- ."tering'thel blade relative to thefguard when pressed down bythe backing member 2, as hereinafter descibedv fFurthenit will be notedthat the blade is jprov'ldedjcn Aopposite, lends of the slot I5 with openings 18 wider. than the slot I5 'and ,exposing the-ends 4vof the longitudinal recess edges; while providing f transverse lines' 'ofready ilexure. .and locatingy these advantageously* adja- Lcentvthese exposed ends.'V e y litedthereto, the openings I8 are substantially 's emicircular.in shapeand conform generally in shapejtofthe endsj onthe connecting portion-6, either .ofthe openings .I8f'being adapted to snap .over either end .Sfa'sjthe 'blade lmoves froml the position kshown.'injl'igure 2, through the position ,shown in 3, tothat rshown `in .Figure 1jin .Whiohthe'remote ends are inthe` planeof Ythe,

.grooves'andfbehind `theendsfl of the connecting Vthis vportion-will overliethe adjacent end of the yportionvI, and so that the edges I6 of the blade slotV I5,are in alignment with the bevelled underoutsA I I vdisposed on opposite sides of the portion 6. "When in this position, the blade may obviously be moved readily longitudinally of the portion 6,whileholding the -portion iIi, in rsuch Herein, Whil'enot llimf ',5 preferably `provided with end extensions y I9 onitsfoppositejends vwhich extend Yloeyron'dfthese y operings'A If and arepad'apted 'to be supported 'on theportionsa onfthe top surface `8 oftheggluard v1|,Q'fwlriile Yalso extending A'beyond the ends 'of the Llatterto provide ready means of raising-and.,

ytransversely flexing `^the end of thelblade from :the position shQWn'inEigure lvtofthat shown'in Figures whenL the Vmafie-is being removed.

`.Cooperating with theimproved .guard .li and ,improved .blade l5 .is animproved backing member g 2r This` member is of .generallyV conventional v,shape anddadaptedsto cooperate in fxing the Ifloladei5 yin `a usual ymanner intov the desired posiq tionrelative to the usual longitudinal edges yof -theSg-uard -I. However, it'will-.be noted that,` in- VVVstead-of having a 'projection of. any sortl on 'its .inner face receivable in a portion' of vthefguard ,-I, thislmember .is provided with ya recess this face.'` `[Iere"in, a slot f or recess j 2.0 is provided which extendslongitudinally 4of 'theguard and'is adapted to receive the connecting portion 6 there- ,imv Moreoventhe .bottom portions l2I along .this

- .slotfals'o l.preferably.engage the blade along. the .edges fof -thef'slotlIl .therein and closely ,adjacent As a'result of manner as -to'drawp the remainder -of the edges Iii inte theundercuts I1, 4the partsthen assuming {the' relation shown infiigureB. f 'lv-Iowever, when fthe blade"5ismoved-'further'toftheeright, i. e. 'to tl'ieposition shown inf-Figure l'git will be evident 4'thatifhe' forward end of the blade will snap-down vover the lrounded end l3 of lthe portion-f5, in such -rn'an'ner'that the blade is then securely connected 'tothe guard lI throughout the length oftheblade -"s'lo` tl5 with the "recess edge vportions on the blade inthe groovesi-n' the connecting meansV B and the closed'end portions in abutting 'relation'lber`hind the -ends `v9 -thereofY Then, obviously, the

backing member 'Zmay'be connected in a' usual manner, 'by extend-ingl its member 3 'through the 'aperturer 1 into the handle 4 andfconnecting it in jausual jmanner by rotation ofvthe usualfknob im; the edges 25| ofthe Slo-11,20 inthe backing member 2 then also preferably pressing downupon :the portions of'the` blade along and adjacent the connecting portion k(5,3while the sharpened edges of the bla-de are flexed downward by the backing ymember relative to the longitudinal iihgered' A'edges ofr the guard to prep-are the razo-rfor use in shaving. Obviously when it is desired to change or sharpen a'blade f5, the` same can be readily removed .following removal of ythe backing mem*- v,loenjby merely raising either ofthe end portions ,I9 to clear the end 9110i vthe connecting portion Ii'and moving the blade longitudinally while the endportion is supported on thepo-rtion @,the parts .thenbeing again linthe relation shown in 5,; Figures 2 and 3,fa'nd' the blade being completely o the` partshave passed through 'the position shown separated from the' connecting portion 6 after yinfigure 2. p l,

this improvedconstruction, it will be evident that the blade 5 isveryaccurately.:po-r sitioned on the holder in such mannery that uniform shaving results are obtainable. VMoreove/r, 4due to the cooperating' tapered lportions on lthe blade and slot I I, the blade edges are definitely andaccurately centered relative to the guard despite variationsviin manufacture, sich, for example, as variations 'in width of the slots in the blade and guard. forV example, if the slot in the blade is sofvvide'that the portions I'Ia thereon will .not .abut the'vertical surfaces I4 on the guard, the' bevels will-obviously still accurately Ipositionthe blade; The connection of the blade to the holder also preventskv all displacement or lshiftingoff-the bladerelative -to theholder during connectionrof the backing memberand consequent inconvenience and possible dulling of the blade, while also facilitating and expediting the connection of the backing member. Further, it is made possible for either end of the blade to be inserted on either end of the guard. Also, this connecting movement, being longitudinal, is such as to minimize the danger of spoiling the blade edges by striking them against the guard. Moreover, with the blade thus connected to the holder with the backing member removed, it is possiblefor the blade and holder to be rinsed thoroughly without danger of dullng of the blade edges either by contact with the backing plate, or movement relative to theguard, both of which frequently occurred in previous constructions; my improved construction making it possible for the backing member to be removed entirely and the entire blade, the cutting edges of which then spring up, to be rinsed or cleansed effectively while still remaining securely positioned on the guard. It will also be evident that when it is desired to remove the blade from the guard, as for sharpening, this may be readily accomplished by a longitudinal movement in either direction, thereby also minimizing nicking, while such difficulty is still further minimized by the fact that the blade is completely freed from the holder as soon as the edges of the blade slot disengage the side grooves II in the connecting portio-n 6.

Obviously, the construction is also such that either end of the blade may be readily ilexed upward in such manner as to provide a ready and convenient means of sliding the blade relative to the guard, the upwardly flexed ends of the blade providing a convenient means for disposing the ends of the recess edge portions tangentially relative to said flexed end and thereby facilitating the entry of the edges of the slot I in the grooves I I; while the ends I9 also are readily movable into or out of engagement with the-portion 6 and when supported thereon also provide an abutment facilitating blade movement while the users fingers are disposed out of contact with the cutting edges of the blade. The provision of the portions 2I on the backing plate and the adjacent arcuate blade engaging faces of the back plate, also act to minimize blade breakage, eliminating undue strain on the edges of the slot or recess in the blade, which are disposed in the opposite grooves in the connecting portion 6, while still permitting the blade to be of a simple and inexpensive construction. Attention is further directed to the fact that my improved connection between the blade slot edges and the connecting member 6 is'such as to require the use of blades of my improved construction and thus precludes the use of inferior blades which, lacking my improved relieved or bevelled edges along the slot or longitudinal opening therein, obviously will not fit the grooves or slots II in the portion 6. For example, a non-beveled blade thinner than the groove would have to have the upper edges of its recess pass under the upper or overhanging walls I3 or 24 of Figures 7 or 9 and thus would have the lower edges of its recess supported on the longer bottom beveled portions I 2 or 22 at some point within the overhanging walls I3 or 24 in such manner that the bottom of the blade adjacent the connecting portion 6 would be spaced above the upper face 8 of the guard, and thus would either prevent the backing member from moving down into its normally clamping position or break kthe blade. I-Iere it will further be noted that by providing oppositely directed surfaces or .reverse bevels on the top and bottom edges of the blade slot or longitudinal opening, it is not only made possible to facilitate and cheapen manufacture, but also to connect the blade to the guard with equal facility regardless Vof which side of the blade is up, while still obtaining the above advantages of my improved construction of bladeY and connecting means. These and other advantages of rmy improved construction will, however, be apparent to those skilled inthe art.

In Figures 9 and 10, I have also shown modiiied 'forms of the improved guiding connection between the connecting means 6 and the blade which may be used if desired. In Figure 9, it will be noted that the slot in the member-6 has a portion 22 generally corresponding to the portion I2 heretofore described, but that a longer vertical portion 23 is provided which extends to a horizontal top guide portion 24. Here, certain of my improved results as regards guiding and positioning of the blade will also be obtained, but it will be observed that variations in manufacture are not as effectively taken care of, while the blade 5, being correspondingly shaped, also always has to be inserted with the same side up, in order for the slot edges therein to be received in the grooved edges in the member 6. In Figure 10, it will be noted that all bevelling has been omitted from the blade, a vertical wall 25 and a horizontal wall 26 only being provided in the portion 6 and the blade being correspondingly shaped. Here also the desired guiding and a symmetrical construction will be obtained and it will be noted that the blade 5 may be reversed, if desired, but it will be noted that variations in manufacture are not as effectively overcome as in any previously described forms, while the blade is not as accurately positioned without expensive precision in manufacture.

In Figures 11 to 14, I have also shown a modifled construction of guard, backing member and blade which may be used, if desired. In this construction, it Will be noted that the same is essentially similar to that 'described in connection with Figures l to 8, save that, instead of a continuous connecting portion 6 wider than the 'diameter of the aperture L'said portion comprises a plurality of spaced and narrower guiding parts 28 and these parts are spacedl at opposite sides of an aperture 29 which is of greater diameter than the width of these parts 28. Further, it will be noted that the inner ends of the parts 28 are provided with portions 30 sloping downward to the top face of the guard and terminating just short of the opposite sides of the aperture 29. Here also it will be observed that while the grooves 3| in these parts 28 correspond generally to the grooves II lheretofore described, these -grooves are not continuous, being spaced by an intermediate open portion formed by the sloping portions 30, and further are provided with flared mouths at each end of each of the four grooves thus provided. Obviously the blade 32 used With this construction may be essentially similar to that heretofore described and the cross section of the grooves 3| and of the edges of the slot in the blade may be as heretofore. However, the slot 33 in the blade is narrower and an opening 34 is provided intermediate the ends of the slot to register with the aperture 29 when the blade is in the shaving position on the guard illustrated in Figure l1. Obviously, this construction will function generally similarly to that heretofore described, although some additional manual guiding ofthe blade may be desirable 'in directing' the end thereof over the gap between the parts 28 and the recess edges into the grooves 3| on the opposite side of this gap. y

Here it will be understood that, while I prefer the use of a simple straight slot I5 in the blade, the edges of the slot may be out back or'indented along their length While obtaining certain of the advantages of my improvedv construction, provided, atthe edges of the longitudinal opening therein, guiding portions of sufcient number or extent are provided to permit the blade to continue to be effectively guided and positioned in the grooves in the connecting means. Further, it Will be understood that I contemplate the use of my improved blade supporting and connecting means in connection with other razors or cutting devices than those illustrated, and irrespective o f whether the'blade is iiexed as herein, -or remains unflexed during use.

While I have herein specifically described certain forms which my invention may assume in practice, it will be understood that these forms of the same are chosen forpurposes of illustration and that. the invention may be modi- Iiedrand embodied Vin various other forms Without dep-arting from its spirit or the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim Ias new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a. holder having raised connecting means thereon longitudinally grooved along its opposite sides, a resilient blade having a longitudinally disposed recess of substantially said connectiong means, and said connecting means and recess also having cooperating means at their opposite ends for enabling insertion of the edges of said recess in said grooves from either end of said connecting means.

2. In combination, a holder having raised longitudinally disposed connecting means longitudinally undercut in its opposite longitudinal edges to form grooves therein, a resilient blade having a longitudinally disposed recess closed at its ends and receiving said portion and having portions narrowerfthan all portions of the top of said raised connecting portion and `also having recess edges disposable in said grooves, and means on said blade and connecting means including enlarged opposite ends of said recess and open ends length of either of said widened ends of said Y recess.

4. In combination, a holder having a raised connecting portion longitudinally grooved along its opposite sides, a cooperating resilient blade having a longitudinal recess of substantially the length ofv said portion receiving 'the latter and having recess edge' means positionable in the groove means therein, and cooperating means on said blade and Aportion including laterally enlarged end portions. of said recess and longitudinal grooves in the ropposite ends of said con- 1 necting portion for enabling longitudinal insertion of, said blade on said portion from either end of the latter and having the ends of. said recess and they ends of said connecting portion engageable following such insertion to maintain said blade againstsubstantial longitudinal displacement in either direction beyondv the ends of said connecting portion.

5. A blade holder having a raised longitudinal connecting portion thereon longitudinally grooved along its opposite sides, said holder having blade supporting surfaces along the grooved sides yof said connecting portion and said grooves having upper overhanging walls and downwardly sloping lower walls leading to said surfaces and extending laterally beyond the overhang of said upper overhanging Walls. j

6. In combination, a holder having a raised blade connecting and positioning portion spaced from opposite longitudinal edges of said holder and longitudinally grooved along its opposite sides, a cooperating resilient blade connectible to said portion and having a longitudinal recess of substantially the same length as said raised portion and recess edge means longitudinally receivable in the groovemeans in said connecting portion from either end of the latter when either end of said blade is flexed upwardly, and means operative on return nexureV of said end for connecting saidelements to one another following relative longitudinalmovement of said blade and said connecting portion including s ubstantially symmetrical connecting and positioning extremities on opposite` ends of said connect. ing portion and also including Vcooperating substantially symmetrical positioning and connecting means vforming the opposite endsoil said blade recess. y y

7. In a razor, a guard having a longitudinally extending raised blade connecting portion and longitudinally extending blade receiving grooves on opposite sides of said portion,` and a backing member cooperating with a blade disposed in the grooves in said portion in positioning the blade for shaving and having a recess Aof substantially the Width of said portion and conforming to and receiving said portion, and means on said backing member having outer edge portions for ilexing the outer edges of a blade disposed in the grooves in said connecting portion and also having inner edge portions extending along opposite longitudinal edges of said recess substantially throughout the length thereof and engaging the portions of the blade adjacent and projecting from the grooves in said Aconnecting portion clamping said blade portion to the guard.

f 8. In a safety razor, a guard having a raised longitudinally disposed connecting portion and grooves in the opposite sides of said portion extending from intermediate the ends thereof longitudinally to the ends thereof, and a blade insertable into connected position on said portion from either end of the latter by movement in one longitudinal direction only and having a lon'- gi'tudinal recess having like enlarged opposite ends and of substantially the length of said portion and adapted to receive said portion with the ends of the latter adjacent the ends of said recess, said blade vbeing transversely flexible at opposite ends of ,said recess and .having opposite edge" portions received longitudinally in said opposite -grooves and also having closed ends at opposite ends of said recess disposed adjacent opposite ends of said connecting portion and each disposable over and movable alongl over said connecting portion from either end thereof while said edge portions enter 4and move in said grooves.

9. In a safety razor, a guard having a. raised connecting portion having substantially `symmetrical remote ends `and longitudinally grooved along its opposite sides, anda blade having a longitudinal recess for receiving said portion and of substantially the length rof thelatter and transversely flexible at each endof-:the recesstherein and also having an enlarged opening atV each end of said recess receiving either end of said connecting portion and intermediate edge portions having their ends exposed by said openings and receivable in the opposite grooves of said connecting portion, said grooves in said connecting portion extending substantially lto opposite ends of said portion and having longitudinally disposed mouths at their opposite ends flared upwardly in the direction of ilexure of the blade end for facilitating initial insertion of said exposed ends on the blade.

10. In combination, a holder having a raised connecting portion having longitudinally extending grooves on opposite sides thereof, a cooperating blade having a longitudinal recess and recess edges positionable in the grooves in said portion, cooperating variation compensating means between the grooves in said connecting portion and the edges of said recess including downwardly and outwardly directed surfaces on said grooves and cooperating surfaces on the edges of said recess, and a backing member carried by said holder and carrying means engaging said blade along and adjacent said cooperating surfaces for pressing said cooperating surfaces on said blade down on the downwardly and outwardly directed surfaces on said grooves in the direction of the clamping pressure to center said blade on said connecting portion.

11. In a safety razor, a guard having a raised connecting portion longitudinally grooved on opposite sides thereof, a blade having a longitudinal recess and recess edges positionable in the grooves in said connecting portion, cooperating variation compensating means between the grooves in said connecting portion and the edges of said recess including downwardly and outwardly directed bevelled groove edges and cooperating edges on said recess engaging with said bevelled edges, and means acting on said blade along said cooperating edges for pressing the edges on said blade down on the bevelled edges of said grooves in the direction of clamping pressure to center said blade on said co-nnecting portion.

12. In a safety razor, a guard having a raised connecting portion longitudinally -grooved on opposite sides thereof, a longitudinally recessed blade transversely exible at each end of the recess therein Iand having a widened opening at each end of said recess receiving either end of said connecting portion, and intermediate edge portions receivable in the opposite grooves in said -connecting portion, said grooves having downwardlyv and outwardly directed surfaces and said recess having oppositely directed surfaces on its opposite edges both on the top and on the bottom of said blade selectively cooperating with said downwardly and outwardly directed surfaces on said connecting por-tion in inverted pos1t1ons of-jthe blade, and means racting on said blade along said recessl edges for pressing the latter down on the surfaces on said grooves in the` direction ofthe clamping pressure to centerl said blade on said connecting portion.

longitudinal groove-sin/'its opposite longitudinal edges, and a resilient-blade having a longitudinal recess therein and having recess edge portions disposed in said grooves vand terminating therein short of both opposite ends of said grooves and of said connecting means, and said blade also having enlarged vend recesses communicating with said longitudinal recess and exposing both opposite ends of 4said recess edge portions and said enlarged Y recesses 4having end Walls substantially abutting the opposite 'ends of said connecting means.

14. In a safety razor, a guard having a raised connecting portion having symmetrical opposite ends and grooves in the opposite sides of said portion extending from intermediate the ends of said connecting Aportion to the ends thereof, and a longitudinally recessed blade transversely flexible at each end of the recess therein and having closed ends spaced by substantially the length of said connecting portion and a laterally enlarged `opening at each end of said recess receiving either end of said connecting portion and also having intermediate edge portions shorter than said grooves and receivable in the opposite grooves of said guard from either end of said connecting portion.

15. In a safety razor, a guard having a raised connecting portion grooved along opposite sides thereof and a longitudinally recessed blade transversely resilient and closed at each end of said recess and having a laterally enlarged opening forming each end of said recess and intermediate Iedge portions receivable in the opposite grooves of said guard, said connecting portion having means for connecting said blade to said raised portion upon longitudinal insertion of the blade from either end of said guard by longitudinal movement in one direction only and said grooved connecting portion also comprising cooperating longitudinally spaced parts having oppositely directed downwardly and inwardly inclined adjacent end faces for deflecting said closed end portions when moving ineither of opposite directions between said spaced parts.

16. In a safety razor, a blade holder having raised connecting means thereon including parts extending from substantially midway between the ends of said holder substantially to the opposite ends thereof, and also having longitudinal grooves in the opposite longitudinal sides of said parts extending to the outer ends of the latter and having upper and lower blade confining walls, and a resilient blade of a thickness less than the height of said raised connecting means having a longitudinally disposed recess closed at its ends for receiving said connecting means and also having edge portions on said recess substantially as thick as the height of said grooves and substantially filling said grooves and maintaining said edge portions vertically centered in the plane of said grooves.

17. A resilient blade transversely flexible adjacent its ends and having a longitudinally disposed recess cut out therein between closed ends thereof, recess edge portions on the opposite sides of said recess between said ends, and upwardly and inwardly directed blade centering surfaces alongtlre innermost portions of the confronting edges of said recess for centering the blade relative/to correspondingly upwardly and in-v wardly directed surfaces on a holder When the blade is clamped to the latter.

18. A resilient blade transversely flexible adjacent its opposite ends and having a longitudinally disposed cut out recess therein having closed ends and oppositely directed elongated blade centering 'surfaces on opposite longitudinal recess edge portions sloping toward the longitudinal center line ofv the blade, and extending along opposite longitudinal cut edges of said recess for engaging cooperating oppositely directed surfaces on a blade holderfand centering the blade. laterally when in use on such a holder.

` 19. A resilient blade having a longitudinally Y closed ends and' recess edge portions along each y of the oppositev longitudinal sides of said recess and each having oppositely directed beveled top edge lportions and oppositely directed beveledv bottom edge portions yalso oppositely directed with respect to said top-edge portions, and an intermediate edge between said top and bottom beveled portions. y I

'Y PAUL L. PHILLIPS. 

